Man arrested after scaling Trump Tower with suction cups

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., Aug. 11 (UPI) — A 19-year-old Virginia man who scaled the 58-story Trump Tower in New York City with suction cups was yanked from the building side and taken to the hospital for psychological evaluation.

The man, who was not named, was removed from the building at the 21st floor after eluding police for hours. Rescue workers cut holes in the glass windows and ventilation covers before eventually removing a whole window and jerking him off a suction cup-and-rope contraption.

A day earlier, the man released a YouTube video saying he was an “independent researcher” who wanted to meet Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

“What he explained to us is that he wanted a personal meeting with Mr. Trump and he posted a YouTube video on Tuesday,” Bill Aubrey, chief of detectives with the New York Police Department’s Manhattan South Precinct said. “At no time did he express that he wanted to hurt anybody. His sole intention was to meet with Mr. Trump.”

The man started climbing at the 5th floor atrium, where there is public access. As the scene unfolded, a crowd gathered on the street and cheered him on. After he was captured, he was taken to New York City Health Hospitals/Bellevue and will likely be arrested after he is discharged, and charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, police said.

At the time, Trump was campaigning in Abingdon, Va. Trump Organization executive Michael Cohen said in a statement: “This man performed a ridiculous and dangerous stunt. There’s damage to the building and he caused the unnecessary deployment of New York’s finest to protect his safety and the safety of everyone in the building.

“He’s caused the shutdown of traffic on Fifth Avenue. I’m 100 percent certain the NYPD had better things to do. If Mr. Trump were here he’d be thanking law enforcement for the job they’re doing.”